Kitchen Tips to Save Time and Money

Here are a few little tips that I use to save time and money in the kitchen:

*Set up coffee for the next day the night before. It will help to motivate you in the morning.

*Pack lunch for your husband the night before.

*To Clean the Microwave: Boil 1 c. of water in the microwave, it helps to loosen grime to make it easier to wipe down.

*To Peel Eggs: Run them under cold water first.

*To save money on milk: use reconstituted dry milk for baking.

*Store yeast in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresher longer.

Happy Homemaking!

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My Pancake Challenge

Things have been so busy around here that I have been feeling a bit behind lately. So my new challenge to myself is to get organized, plan ahead and be prepared. I dislike feeling unprepared almost as much as I dislike being late, and yet those two things seem to be following me lately like a relentless mosquito.

So, my challenge for today was to make a big batch of pancakes to freeze. That way I have a homemade breakfast on hand for those mornings where I am feeling rushed. Everyone around here likes pancakes and they are easy to heat up in a hurry.

Happy Homemaking!

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Kitchen Tips To Save Time and Money

Here are a few little tips that I use to save time and money in the kitchen:

*Set up coffee for the next day the night before. It will help to motivate you in the morning.

*Pack lunch for your husband the night before.

*To Clean the Microwave: Boil 1 c. of water in the microwave, it helps to loosen grime to make it easier to wipe down.

*To Peel Eggs: Run them under cold water first.

*To save money on milk: use reconstituted dry milk for baking.

*Store yeast in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresher longer.

Happy Homemaking!

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An Utter Disaster of a Morning

Do you ever wake up and think “Today is just not going to be my day. I should just pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep.”? Yes I know, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. As soon as you think like that you are bound to have a bad day. But first thing in the morning, logic is not my strong suit. (eh- who am I kidding, I’m rarely logical).

The children woke up grumpy as well (is there something in the air?). Everyone was being a bit impatient at breakfast, and I was feeling cranky and rushed. I went to pull something out of the refrigerator and it pulled the shelf out with it and somehow a pitcher of lemonade went flying. Literally. It landed on the floor and shattered ( a plastic pitcher! That sort of thing is just not supposed to happen! That is why we used plastic!!!!) and sent lemonade all over the front of the entire inside of the refrigerator, all over the dishwasher, surrounding cabinets and the floor. Oh, and all over me as well. Why does this sort of thing always happen when you are wearing an outfit you like?!!!! Anyway, that certainly did not help my mood. And Jacob, my ever wise little one, proceeded to remind me that we are supposed to be careful. Did you spill all the lemonade mommy? Did it get all over everything mommy? Mommy, you should really be careful. Yes, I know.

So it wasn’t the best start to the day. But I just refuse to have a bad day. There are just too many wonderful things happening in our lives, and there is just not a good reason to be in a bad mood. So I am just going to offer up my bad morning for a friend of mine’s daughter who is sick. See, I feel better all ready.

Everyone’s mood seems to have improved as the day as progressed and- I just had to go pull a wad of tape out of Joshua’s mouth. That boy. How did we get tape? Well he pulled one of the pictures off of the school room wall (Jacob likes when I put up his work) and then wadded up the tape and tried to eat it. That’s my Joshie-bear.

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Mary Alden's Eight Steps to a Clean Kitchen

I read this somewhere years ago, and now I cannot remember where I got it from. But I have found it helpful in keeping a tidy kitchen. ( I tend to be a messy cook;) )

1. Before you start cooking, set out everything you will need, including cooking utensils, and food, in front of you.
2. As soon as you are through with each cooking tool, rinse and leave it in the sink.
3. As soon as you are through with each food that you are using, put it back where you got it. Don’t ever wait until you are all through to do these things.
4. When your recipe is finished, make sure that your pots and pans, bowls and spoons are soaking in the sink.
5. Take a damp cloth and wipe off all places where you worked so that no crumbs or specks of food are left about.
6. Check the floor for spots and crumbs and wipe them up, too.
7. Now wash the pots and pans and other cooking tools that you left soaking. Dry them and put them away.
8. Review the kitchen, if it looks neat and clean, you are done!

Happy Homemaking!

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My Bed Making Helpers

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Potluck Casserole

Ingredients~
1-1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 med. bag frozen mixed vegetables
elbow macaroni
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can mushroom pieces and stems, drained
16 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions~
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Brown ground beef in large skillet. When fully cooked, remove and out in large mixing bowl.
3. While ground beef is cooking, cook frozen vegetables. Then add to mixing bowl.
4. Add half of the cheese and the remaining ingredients. Mix.
5. Put into 9×13 casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake for 35-45 minutes.

Hugs,

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My Little Wild Man

It amazes me how different two brothers can be…

So far we haven’t had to deal with much that comes along with having boys. No trips to the emergency room, no scraped knees, we haven’t had any precious family heirlooms broken…nothing. But somehow I have a feeling that is all about to change.

Joshua is just all boy, all the time. Yesterday I had to pull him off of the crib because he had climbed up the outside and was hanging on to the top. I think he may have been trying to get in. But who knows, I really don’t understand the way that boys think. He’s constantly getting off of Jacob’s bed head first, and I have this sinking feeling that it is only a matter of time before he figures out how to climb up to the top bunk. He is just so wild! Every time I turn around he has disappeared and is getting into something else. And he is a fast little guy. He definitely keeps me on my toes.

The other day he nearly pulled the “mouse” cage onto the floor. He was probably just trying to get closer to them or something. He has figured out that he can use other things like big toys or pillows to climb higher.

Now I know we are in trouble!

Joshua recently got a hold of a marker and colored all over the floor! That is another thing that Jacob has never done. He always colors where he is supposed to. But Joshua managed to put several large stains on the school room carpet in a matter of seconds. Perhaps he was trying to be creative? Who am I kidding, I think he has an inborn need to be destructive. But at least he’s really cute while doing it, right?

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Glass Cleaner Recipe

Ingredients~
3/4 c. water
1 tbsp. vinegar
3 tbsp. non-sudsy ammonia

I use this every where I would use Windex, and I think it works just as well. I usually double it when I make my cleaning supplies.

Happy Homemaking!

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